Medical device coating process

Abstract

Methods for coating medical devices for implantation within a body vessel are provided comprising providing a cylindrical container, placing a medical device inside the cylindrical container, and applying a polymer in liquid form inside the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for coating a luminal or abluminal surface of an implantable medical device having a lumen and a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical container having a container axis; 
 a lumen rotator configured to rotate the cylindrical container about the container axis; and 
 the implantable medical device disposed inside and substantially coaxially-aligned with the cylindrical container. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a dryer. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen rotator comprises a bed of rollers having axes of rotation. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the lumen rotator comprises a heater for heating the rollers. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical container is disposed on the bed of rollers, the cylindrical container having an inner surface, the container axis being substantially parallel to the axes of rotation. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a medical device disposed in the cylindrical container, the medical device having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the container axis and the axes of rotation. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a first polymer in liquid form on the luminal surface of the medical device. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first polymer is partially solidified. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a first bioactive material admixed with the first polymer. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first polymer in liquid form comprises a solution comprising a polyetherurethane urea, a surface modifying additive, and a solvent. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a first polymer in liquid form disposed between the inner surface of the cylindrical container and the abluminal surface of the medical device. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first polymer is partially solidified. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a first bioactive material admixed with the first polymer. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first polymer in liquid form comprises a solution comprising a polyetherurethane urea, a surface modifying additive, and a solvent. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a second polymer in liquid form on the luminal surface of the medical device. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second polymer is partially solidified. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second polymer in liquid form comprises a solution comprising a polyetherurethane urea, a surface modifying additive, and a solvent. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the medical device is a tube, stent, graft, stent graft, or ring.